Earth mover



E. W. AUSTIN June11, 1940.

EARTH MovER Filed Aug. 12, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Junell, 1940. E w, AUSTIN 2,203,713

EARTH MovER Filed Aug. l2. 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 f//s Worf/7 h/usf/h.

`June 11, 1940. E, Ausw 2,203,713

EARTH HOVER Filed Aug. l2, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY X ATTORNEY.

E. W. AUSTIN EARTH Mavim z June l1, 1940,

s sheets-sheet 4' INVENT'OR. f//5W0/4/h/705//27 ATTRNEY.

Filed Aug. 12, 1937 June 11, 19411.l E, w, Ausw `2,203,713

, EARTH HOVER Filed Aug. 12, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY.

June 11, 1940. E w AUST. 22113713 EARTH uovan 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 12. 1937 `ATTO Patented June 11, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EARTH MOVER Application August 12, 1937, Serial` N o. 158,638

15 claims.

My invention relates to carriages for excavating and transporting material such as earth. A structure of this general character is disclosed in' my copending, applicaltion entitled Earth mover, Serial No. 103,972, filed October 5,1936. It is an object of my invention to provide a generally improved earth mover.

Another object of my invention is to provide an earth mover in which the carrying capacity of the mover is substantially equal to its'excavating capacity.`

`Another object of my invention is to provide an earth mover in which the discharge of material is carefully controlled. l Another object of my invention is to provide 'an earth mover having a very large carrying capacity yet with a relatively short wheel base.

An additional object of my invention is to provide an earth mover' in which the` angle of the cutting edge can be varied appreclably withoutl undulytipping the main bowl.

Another object of my invention is to provide an earth mover with an auxiliary bowl which is automatically dumped and righted after dumping. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide an earth mover the various movable parts of which are all controllable by an operator at a remote point.

i The foregoing and other objects are attained in the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which- 1g. ,J is a `side `elevation of an" earth mover constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the earth mover shown in Fig. l, certain portions being broken away to reduce the size of the figure.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, portions of the ligure being broken away to show in cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4' is a cross-section the plane of which is indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail, in cross-section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 6--5 of Fig-,4.

Fig. 6 a diagram, partly in cross-section, showing the earth mover of my inventionin one position. Fig. 'l is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 5, showing my earth mover in a different position. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 6, showing the earth mover of my invention in a further diierent position. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic gure similar to Fig. 6,

showing my earth mover in a still diilerent position.

In its preferred form, the earth moverof my invention includes a main frame on which a main bowl is mounted for movement about an 5 axis away from the main frame and within which an auxiliary bowl is adapted to nest, being movableA into an elevated position byvirtue of an articulation with an auxiliary frame and being designed to dump automatically, when elevated, 10

between the main bowl'and a movable front apron. l

In the form of earth mover shown in the drawings, there is preferably provided a main frame 6' constituted of side beams 'I and 8, at their for- 15 ward ends merging in a yoke 9 which terminates in a swivel connection II supported by a front axle I2 at the extremities of which ground-engaging members, such as wheels I3, are rotatably mounted. A suitable connection (not 20 shown) to any kind of draft mechanism,rsuch as a tractor, is preferably provided on the axle I2. The side members 1 and 8 approach the ground I4 as they proceed rearwardly. Each of them is substantially identical with the other in 25 construction, and terminates between an outer end plate I6 and an inner end plate I1 spaced by braces I8. The two inner plates I'I at their upper ends are spanned by a pair of stiifening tubes IS and 20, which are conveniently bolted 30 in place to reinforce the rear portion of the main frame. The lower parts of the side plates I6 and I'I together serve as mountings for aligned stub axles 2I directed inwardly toward each other and reach serving as a support fora 35 ground-engaging wheel 22.

Carried on the main frame 6 is a main bowl 26 for the reception of the excavated material, such as earth. This `bowl is preferably made up of a. bottom plate 21, suitably reinforced by 40 longitudinally extending channel irons 28, a rear frame 23 likewise reinforced by channels 30, and a. pair of similar side plates 3l and 32 ,arranged to be united. to the rear frame v29 and the bottom plate 26, respectively, yet having ade- 45 quate clearance between the side beams 1 and 6.

The leading edge of the main bowl is provided with a blade or cutter 33 for engagement with the ground I4, and in order movably to relate the leading edge 33 with the main frame 6, I pro- 50 vide an articulationbetween the main bowl and the frame in such away that-the bowl pivots about an axis or center which is horizontal and transverse of the maclne but is some distance away from the frame itself. the eiect of\ litiv4 an, extra long wheel base is obtained without the extra length and cumbersomeness in maneuvering that such an extended wheel base would entail.

On the end frame 29 is a pair of mounting plates 31 and 38, each of which is substantially triangular inside elevation and at its upper extremity serves as a support for one of Aa pair of stub shafts 39 and 4|. Each stub shaft is likewise supported by a rearward extension 42 from the adjacent one of the side plates 3| and 32. At the outer terminus of each of the stub shafts 39 and 4| there is rotatably mounted a follower or roller 43 held in place by a lock collar 44 and provided withlubricant through a fitting 46.

In accordance with my invention, the weight of the main bowl, which is `transmitted to the two rollers 43, is transferred from each of them to a cam guide 41 which is a U-shaped channel of rectilinear configuration accommodating the roller 43 or cam follower with adequate clearance for free travel thereof in a path defined by the walls of the cam guide. mounted by a pair of sleeves 48 and 49, which are fastened by a pair of pins 5| and 52, to the main frame 6, and alternative holes 53 are provided for changing the inclination of the cam guide 41 to vary the path of movement of the roller 43. The pin 5| pierces the inner end plate |1, while the pin 52 pierces an ear 54 welded to its respective one of the side beams 1 and 8.

To supplement the operation of the cam guides 41 in defining the motion of the main bowl with respect to the main frame, I provide on each side of the machine an additional caml guide in the nature of a pair of parallel angles 55 arranged substantially vertically and in registry with the boundary of an elongated aperture 56 in extension plate 42. Acting as a follower, is a roller 51 situated between the angles 54 and journaled on .an axle which spans the space between the plates AI6 and l1. In addition to the foregoing restraints upon the movement of the main bowl, it is generally confined against undue transverse movement vthe yoke 9am extensible link 14 which preferably is a ytelescopic hydraulic mechanism 13 having an intermediate cylinder 11 and a plunger 18. This link is mounted on trunnions 19 engaging the ears 13 and carries a pin 8| at its upper end engaging a pedestal 82 on the main bowl. The pedestal is a box member made up of suitable plates secured to a front cross-plate 83 reinforced by channels 84 and extending from one to the other of the two side plates 3| ,and 32. By proper control of the hydraulic actuating fluid of the mechanism 14, the main bowl can be raised and lowered and in effect pivoted about an axis to the rear of the stub axles 2|, thus raising and lowering the cutting edge 33 but varyingits angularity due to change in elevation less than it would vary if the center of rotation were on the mainframe 6 and closer to the cutting edge.

To co-operate with the main bowl in retaining therein earth received over the .cutting `edge 33, I provide a front apron 86 which preferably includes an arcuate center plate 81 having an abutting strap A88 on its rearward edge to contact the cutter 33 and joined' at its opposite sides' to apron side plates 89 and 9|, respectively, extending out- Each guide 41 isl plates 3| and 32.

In order to effectuate rotary movement ofthe front apron about the pivot pins 92, I preferably provide an extensible link in the formof a hydraulic cylinder 91 having a piston rod -98 movable therein under the influence of hydraulic 'fluid admitted to and expelled from the cylinder.

The cylinder is preferably mounted upon apln 99 acting as a trunnion and journaled in the plates forming the pedestal 82, the pedestal itself serving as a partial enclosure for the cylinder 91. The vpiston rod 98 is connected by a pivot pin |0| to a bracket |02 secured to the arcuate center plate 81 of the front apron. Movement of the piston rod4 98, therefore, produces a corresponding rotary movement of the front apron with 'respect to the mainbowl.

Since the front apron in its lowermost position does not extend for the full height of the side plates 3| and 32, I preferably introduce a deflecting plate |03 between the `side plates 3| and 32 and locate it just below the spanning plate 83. The deflecting plate |03 is provided with an aperture |04 through which either the bracket |02 or the piston rod 98 extends during apron movement, so that when the front apron ls in its lowermost position, earth can be retainedv in the'main bowl not only by the front apron but likewise by the deflecting plate |03 and the spanning plate 83.

In order materially to increase the -carrying capacity of my earth mover and to bring the carrying capacity into close accord with the excavating capacity of the machine, I preferably .provide means for receiving and transporting substantially a complete load of earth in a position out of the excavating position, thereby leaving room for an additional load. For this reason I provide an auxiliary bowl adapted to nest within the main bowl and comprised of a bottom plate ||2 suitably reinforced by channels ||3, a rear plate ||4 likewise reinforced by a channel ||6, and side plates ||1 and ||8 respectively, all suitably united by welding. The forward edges of the side plates ||1 and ||8 and of the bottom plate l l2 are flared outwardly-to merge smoothly with the interior walls of the main bowl. In the position shown in Fig. 4, for example, the outward fiare of the bottom ||2 substantially continues the inclination of the cutting edge 33 of the main bowl 26.

In order suitably to mount the auxiliary bowl out of the way of loading of the main bowl, I

preferably provide each of the side walls ||1 and v ||8 with a pivot pin ||9 suitably mounted between the respective side walls and reinforcing plates |2| thereon. The pins ||9 are preferably located forwardly of the center of gravity of the auxiliary bowl and are received in arms |22 and |23, forming part of anauxiliary frame, generally designated |24. Incorporated in the auxiliary frame is a transverse box beam |26 comprised of a pair of spacing channels Welded together for effectively uniting the two arms |22 and |23 for movement in unison. vEach of these arms extends rearwardly and at its rearward extremity is provided with'a sleeve |21 forming a journal l rotatable about the stub shaft 39 or 4|, so that the auxiilary frame |24 always partakes of the Q5 frame, I preferably mount on the transverse box beam' |26 a pair of depending ears |28 and |29 each of which is connected by its pivot pin |3| with a clevis |32 on a piston rod |33 extending from and constrained to move with respect to a hydraulic cylinder |34.v Each cylinder is on a trunnion mounting |36 between a plate |31 extending from the rear frame 29 of the main bowl and the adjacent one of the" mounting plates 31 and 38.` Operation of the cylinders |34 in unison raises and lowers the auxiliary frame |24 by rotation about thestub shafts 39 and 4| as pivotal' axes and raises and lowers the pivot pins ||9. Since the center of gravity of the auxiliary bowl is to therear and above the pivotal axis of the pins H9, the auxiliary bowl is unstable. The tendency is toward anti-clockwise rotation, as

seen in Fig. 4, of the auxiliary bowl with respect to its supporting beams. This movement is precluded by stop angles |4I extending from the sides ||1 and ||8 of the auxiliary bowl and in the normal position of the bowl lying against the arms |22 and'l23.

'I'he auxiliary bowl is movable out of nested position by operation of the hydraulic cylinders |34,

and ordinarily is carried considerably above the 'main bowl when loaded. To discharge the auxiliary bowl from elevated position, I provide means for automatically inverting it as it is elevated. To each of the side plates and ||0 I fasten one of a pair of chains |42, which is likewise secured at a suitable point |43 to the deiiector plate |03. `As the auxiliary bowlais elevated, it is inverted by the pull of the chains |42. During inversionthe center of gravity shifts forwardly of the pivot pins H9 and the auxiliary bowl then remains in inverted position until such time as the auxiliary frame |23 is lowered, whereupon the forward edges of the side plates ||1 and ||8 abut against the deflector plate |03 and rotatethe auxiliary bowl in-` a counterclockwise direction. As soon as the center of gravity passes to the rear of the-pins ||9, the auxiliary bowl returns gravitally to normal position with the stop angles |4| abutting the arms |22 and |23.

As a means for assisting in the discharge of the material accumulated in the main bowl, I preferably provide an earth barrier |5l composed of a suitable plate |52 reinforced by channels I. This barrier is located transversely between the side walls of thevmain bowl and is partially supported by rollers |54 bearing upon the bottom plate 21 of the main bowl. Extending 4from thel earth barrier is a hub |56, reinforced by an arch plate |51 welded to the rear of the barrier. Within the hub is pinned the piston rod |58 of a telescopic piston and cylinder |59. The cylinder |59 is carried by an arched plater frame |'6l secured to transverse reiniorcingchannels |62 spanning lthe rear frameI 29 of the iriain bowl. By operation of the cylinderv |59, the earth barrier can be moved forwardly within the main bowl to discharge earth therefrorn'and can be re-A tracted into: a quiescent position interposed between the main bowl and the auxiliary bowl 4nested therein.

In the general operation of the device, as especially shown' in Figs. 6 to 9, Ithe structure rst occupies an excavating position substantially as shown in Fig. 6, with the earth barrier interposed between the main bowl and the auxiliary bowl,

. the auxiliary bowl has been substantially charged with material by continued operation, the extensible link controlling the operation of the auxiliary frame is extended so that the auxiliary frame is raised and the auxiliary bowl is lifted above the loading line of the main bowl. The

auxiliary bowl is stable in such. position, since its center of gravityis well behind the axis of pivotal support.

- As the earth mover is `further advanced, the main bowl itself is then charged. There is the substantial equivalent of two loads'of earth excavated and carried by my earth carrier in distinction to the single load which ordinarily it is possible-to transport. Duringthe latter part of the loading of the main bowl, the front apron is gradually closed to accommodate the forward spill which accumulates during excavation. The main bowl is then elevated into the general carrying position as shown in'Fig. 8.

`When the earth mover is to be discharged, the front apron is raised, permitting material to be released over the cutting edge of the main bowl, and the auxiliary frame is further raised Lso that the taut chains |42 move the auxiliary bowl in a clockwise direction until its center of gravity passesyforwardly of the pivot pins and the bowl tips to discharge the load therefrom. The load in spilling is confined against the plates 83 and |03 and discharges between the cutting edge and the front apron, so that the front apron .is avail.-

able for regulation of the discharge onto the" ground ,of the load from the auxiliary bowl. Finally, after the auxiliary bowl has been discharged and is still in elevated position, the earth barrier is moved forwardly from its rearmost position and gradually discharges the entire load of the main bowl over the cutting edge, this discharge likewise being controllable by suitable manipulation of. the front apron.

At the conclusion of4 discharge of the earth mover, the earth barrier is moved rearwardly in the main bowl to its normal position, the auxil. iary frame is lowered, permitting the auxiliary bowl to be rotated in an anti-clockwise position about its pivotal mounting on the arms |22 and |23 by reason of contact with the wall |03, and upon further lowering movement the auxiliary bowl comes to rest nested within the main' bowl Y. with the earth barrier interposed between the auxiliary and main bowls. The front apron is moved into a suitable position for excavating, and the main bowl is moved into a suitable angle for further work.

. l. An earth mover comprising a frame, a main bowl mounted upon'said frame, an auxiliary bowl nested within said main bowl, an earth barrier between said nested bowlsjmeans for moving said auxiliary bowl out of nested position, and means for moving said earth barrier.

2. An earth mover comprising a frame, a main bowl mounted upon said frame, an earth barrier movable within said main bowl, and an auxiliary bowl movable into a position in the path of said earth barrier and within said main bowl.

3.' An earth mover comprising a main frame, a main bowl on said main frame in a position to receive excavated earth through the front of said bowl, an auxiliary frame articulated with said main frame, and means for dumping said auxilmain frame, an auxiliary bowl articulated on said auxiliary frame, means for elevating said auxiliary bowl from an earth-receiving position within said main bowl to an earth-carrying position above said mainj'bowl with respect to said iary bowl when said auxiliary bowl 'is in said elevated carrying position. l

4. An earth mover lcomprising a main bowl, a front apron pivoted on said main bowl, an auxiliary bowl nested within said main bowl, means for elevating said auxiliary bowl with respect to said main bowl, and means for dumping -said auxiliary bowl when elevated into said main bowl and said front apron.

5. An earth mover comprising a main bowl, a front apron movable into a position to close said main bowl, an auxiliary bowl within said main bowl and movable into a position above said. main bowl, and meansv for discharging a load from said elevated auxiliary bowl onto a load retained by said main bowl and said front apron.

6. An earth mover comprising a main ibowl, a front apron movable from a position closing said main bowl to a position spaced from said main bowl, `an earth barrier movable withinsaid main bowl to a position adjacent said front apron, an auxiliary bowl, and means for discharging a load from said auxiliary bowl between said earth barrie'r and said front apron.

'7. An earth-mover comprising a main bowl having a discharge edge, a front apron movable against and -a-way from said edge, an earth barrier movable within said main bowl to and awayv from said edge, and an auxiliary bowl adapted'to discharge over said edge between said earth barrier and said front apron.

'8. An earth mover comprising a frame, a main bowl movably mounted on said frame in :a position directly to receive excavated earth, an earthreceivingauxiliary bowl mounted on said frame for movement into and out of a position inter-I cepting receipt of earth by said main'bowl, an earth barrierk movably mounted between said bowls to discharge earth from said main bowl when said auxiliary bowl is out of interceming position, a front apron mounted on said maln bowl for movement out of and into a position intercepting receipt of earth by both said auxiliary bowl and said main bowl, and means for individually moving said main bowl, said auxiliary bowl, said earth barrier and said front apron.

9. An earth mover comprising a main frame, a main bowl, means mounting said main bowl on said main frame for movement about an approximate center beyond the physical limits of said main frame, an auxiliary frame movably mounted on said main frame, an auxiliary bowl mova-bly mounted on said auxiliary frame to move into and out of nested -position with said main bowl, means for individually moving said main bowl with respect to said main frame, and means forfindividually moving said auxiliary frame with respect to said main bowl.

' 10. An earth mover comprising a frame, a main bowl, an extensible link connecting saidfmain bowl and saidv frame, and means for mounting said main bowl on said frame including a cam guide and roller connection between the bowl andv the frame and supplemental guide means be-` tween the bowl and the frame, the cam guide being disposable at diiferent angles with respect to the bowl and to the frame for confining said bowl to approximately pivotal movement about any selected one of several axes.

11. An earth mover comprising a frame, means for supporting said frame upon theground, a bowl, an articulation between said frame and said bowl including at each side of said bowl a pair of cam guides and cam followers disposed to conne movement of said bowl to rotation about an axis to the .rearV of said frame, and an extensible link connecting said bowl and said frame.

12. An earth mover comprising a frame, a main bowl having a bottom and an open front mounted said rstand said second positions.

13. An earth mover comprising a'frame, a'main bowl having side walls, a bottom and an open front mounted upon said frame to receive earth excavated by the forward movement of said earth mover, an auxiliary bowl having a. bottom and an open front and of a size to be nested within said main bowl between the side walls thereof, and means for moving said auxiliary bowl in a'direction perpendicular to said bottom into a nested position between said side walls to receive earth excavated by the forward movement of said earth mover and in a .direction perpendicular to said bottom out, of nested position whereby excavated earth is received by said main bowl.

14. An earth mover comprising a main bowl having side walls and a bottom, an auxiliary bowl nested within said Iimain -bowl between said side walls, means for elevating said auxiliary bowl with respect to said main bowl in a direction perpendicular to said bottom, and means forautomatically dumping said auxiliary bowl into said main bowl during elevation thereof.

l5. An earth mover comprising a main frame adapted to advance over the ground, a main bowl having a cutting edge and adapted directly to receivel excavated earth as said frame advances, means for moving s aid main bowl with respect to ,said main frame, an auxiliary frame movable between a raised position and a lowered position with respect to said main frame, means Afor moving said auxiliary frame with respect tov said main frame between said positions, and an auxiliary bowl mounted on and movablewith respect to said auxiliary frame, said auxiliary 

